Do voiceover artists make good podcasters?

Stephanie at the Vox Daily blog wrote recently: “Podcasting as a means of earning an income appears to be an avenue many of you [voiceover artists] are likely pursuing right now.” She goes on to say that “podcasting itself (even the entire production) can be outsourced to professional voice talents such as yourselves.”

Hmmmm. As a voiceover artist and a podcaster, I’m not so sure about this. Yes, having a pleasing voice is a plus for a podcaster, but there is so much more to podcasting than nice vocal tone and clear diction.

Would I listen to my favourite podcast, For Immediate Release: The Hobson and Holtz Report, if Shel Holtz had a high, squeaky voice instead of a rich deep one? Or if Neville Hobson spoke with a lisp instead of a smooth English accent? I probably would, because I subscribe to their show because of its compelling content. It’s a goldmine of information about PR, communications and technology at the spot where they intersect (or collide, as Neville likes to say).

So, if you want to podcast for yourself, being a voiceover specialist could be an asset IF and ONLY IF you are also skilled as a content creator. The C word again: content… Can you write? Can you do research? Can you interview people? Can you structure a show? Can you engage your listeners?

If you’re setting out to produce podcasts for companies, as Stephanie suggests, then you need an even broader skill set, because you have to know how to act as a consultant and help others develop a successful show that won’t fade to black after three episodes.

When I did my voiceover training, our instructor said, “I hate to tell you this, but producers look at you as voices with feet.” In other words, they won’t care about our feelings or our lives. They just want a voice that fits the job.

(I believe that voiceover artists are closer to actors than mere “voices with feet,” but our teacher was trying to prepare us for a tough world out there.)

Anyway, in my opinion, if a VO artist wants to be a podcaster, he or she had better be a voice with a brain. A marketing background would be good too!

What do YOU think? How important is a podcaster’s voice? Do you think a voiceover artist can easily become a podcaster?

Comments

[Peter O'Connell]

Hmmm voices with feet?

Let me check...

one on the left, one on the right...

Good. I guess I've got a future.

It does beg the question if a voice is just a voice (sans limbs or anything...just a voice) how then does that voice...adjust the microphone?

[Donna Papacosta]

Peter, with a voice like yours, I don't think you have to worry about your feet or anything else. ;-)

Of course, this was our instructor referring to us as "voices with feet." As I said in my post, I think it takes a heck of a lot more than just vocal cords to be a good VO talent. And the best have more than just smooth pipes.